The Ministry of Revenue truly had no money, and not only no money, but also no grain. Their country was already poor, with scarce resources, and having to pay tribute to two other kingdoms only made their situation worse. They had once possessed fertile lands, but those had been carved up by Yan and Chu. What remained were barren fields—flat enough, but yielding poor harvests. In years of favorable weather, their people could barely stave off hunger. When disaster struck, the common folk could only pray for their own survival.
During the previous emperor's reign, there had been famine years. Back then, the people exchanged their children for food, and large numbers fled south to escape the hardship, while some seized the opportunity to stir up trouble. The court had no choice but to choose the lesser of two evils and suppress them with force. Now, the Empress Dowager wanted to provide disaster relief, but their kingdom had been teetering on the brink, barely holding together. Where would they find the extra strength to aid the victims? If they begged for help from the two powerful states, they wouldn't receive assistance—only deeper exploitation from them.
In essence, their Great Li was caught between two great powers, nothing more than a punching bag. Whenever those two kingdoms clashed, they would bring their battles onto Great Li's soil. Where could they seek justice? The fighting on their land destroyed their crops and fields, and their own people were caught in the crossfire. This was the root cause of their country's growing poverty. Everyone understood the situation and longed to escape this predicament, but no one could change it. The blame lay with the cowardly emperor of the previous dynasty, who refused to resist out of fear of war and continuously ceded territory, losing half the kingdom in no time. By the time the founding emperor of the new dynasty—the late emperor—began his campaign to reclaim the realm, the tide had already turned, and there was no turning it back. Holding onto what they had now was already a monumental struggle.
What a mess. He wasn't a treacherous minister, but even the cleverest cook can't make a meal without ingredients.
The Empress Dowager looked at the Minister of Revenue, who seemed on the verge of tears. "I have a plan in mind. You need not worry about this."
Hearing this, the Minister of Revenue grew even more uneasy. Though he was dissatisfied with the state of the nation and disapproved of the Empress Dowager ruling from behind the curtain, the fact that she was now willing to take risks—and worse, drag the young emperor along—made him wonder what she was thinking.
"Your Majesty, the emperor is the foundation of the state. He cannot travel far. I beg you to reconsider," the Minister of Revenue pleaded, his words carrying a rare note of sincerity.
"My mind is made up. Say no more."
Seeing the Empress Dowager's resolute expression, everyone knew there was no room for negotiation. Their hearts grew heavy. They all understood the country's true condition. The prosperity of the capital was merely a facade; just a dozen miles away, the people were still struggling to fill their bellies.
The Duke of Zhenguo glanced at the Grand Marshal, a hint of inquiry in his eyes: "Does the Empress Dowager have some hidden strategy?"
The Grand Marshal caught his look and replied with a glance: "How would I know what the Empress Dowager has up her sleeve?"
"Given your relationship with her, wouldn't she tell you?"
"My relationship with the Empress Dowager is the same as yours."
The Duke of Zhenguo shuddered with disgust and subtly moved a step away from the Grand Marshal. This man looked refined and gentle, but was he into both men and women? He had no desire to be the subject of any scandalous rumors with the Grand Marshal.
The group left the Imperial Study.
The Grand Marshal was already mentally sifting through the imperial clan, considering who might be suitable to ascend the throne. He had to prepare for both outcomes. If the Empress Dowager and the young emperor returned safely, all would be well. If not, he needed a contingency plan. But after much deliberation, only the Prince of Jin's heir seemed like a remotely viable candidate.